Erinelle
Member
Hello,
This is my very first post on the forum.
So glad to have found it. Seems like people here are very helpful. Unlike many of the FB groups where people are brutally bluggoned for opinions and comments. (I’ve not personally had anyone be rude but have seen others bullied for asking newbie questions!)
I’m not necessarily a newbie to the tortoise world.
I have 4 sulcatas. Three of them are hatchlings.
I’m working on becoming a holistic practitioner and animals are my second love.
Anyway, I have a question for ya’ll!
I’ve been obsessed with making my enclosure/habitat completely replicate the recommended specifications. 90° heat and 90% humidity.
**I have to be honest, I believe that tortoises in captivity are more mineral deficient and that’s were pyramiding happens; low minerals levels means they can’t keep their internal hydration at a high enough level so they pyramid if enclosure humidity is too low to accommodate. But that’s an entirely different subject all together; for another post!**
So the issue....
Our little guy, has had an adverse reaction.
I put he and my other hatchlings together in my closed chamber enclosure once before and his throat swelled. He had a swollen throat and puffy face. I caught it within a few hours the first time and was able to decrease the swelling with a few holistic remedies. He was back to normal about 4-5 days. I wasn’t sure if it was the substrate or the mix of humidity with the substrate that caused it.
So I tried it again. Same reaction. I removed them all and trying now to once again reduce swelling and have him return to normal.
I’m stumped. Has anyone else had this issue?
What other types of bedding would hold this humidity without molding; coco coir is amazing since it’s naturally antibacterial.
I have them all in an open enclosure where the humidity isn’t high enough but I’m just stuck....
I’ve been obsessed over replicating perfection for them but it’s becoming a huge frustration.
They get multiple soaks a day; water alone, carrot juice and mineral soaks. (My yearling has a perfect shell; using my mineral theory).
Any advice?
Here’s a picture of him and I have a video too bit not sure how to upload it here.
This is my very first post on the forum.
So glad to have found it. Seems like people here are very helpful. Unlike many of the FB groups where people are brutally bluggoned for opinions and comments. (I’ve not personally had anyone be rude but have seen others bullied for asking newbie questions!)
I’m not necessarily a newbie to the tortoise world.
I have 4 sulcatas. Three of them are hatchlings.
I’m working on becoming a holistic practitioner and animals are my second love.
Anyway, I have a question for ya’ll!
I’ve been obsessed with making my enclosure/habitat completely replicate the recommended specifications. 90° heat and 90% humidity.
**I have to be honest, I believe that tortoises in captivity are more mineral deficient and that’s were pyramiding happens; low minerals levels means they can’t keep their internal hydration at a high enough level so they pyramid if enclosure humidity is too low to accommodate. But that’s an entirely different subject all together; for another post!**
So the issue....
Our little guy, has had an adverse reaction.
I put he and my other hatchlings together in my closed chamber enclosure once before and his throat swelled. He had a swollen throat and puffy face. I caught it within a few hours the first time and was able to decrease the swelling with a few holistic remedies. He was back to normal about 4-5 days. I wasn’t sure if it was the substrate or the mix of humidity with the substrate that caused it.
So I tried it again. Same reaction. I removed them all and trying now to once again reduce swelling and have him return to normal.
I’m stumped. Has anyone else had this issue?
What other types of bedding would hold this humidity without molding; coco coir is amazing since it’s naturally antibacterial.
I have them all in an open enclosure where the humidity isn’t high enough but I’m just stuck....
I’ve been obsessed over replicating perfection for them but it’s becoming a huge frustration.
They get multiple soaks a day; water alone, carrot juice and mineral soaks. (My yearling has a perfect shell; using my mineral theory).
Any advice?
Here’s a picture of him and I have a video too bit not sure how to upload it here.